Hot-metal-conveying apparatus



April 8 1924. .-1,489,688

c. P. ASTROM HOT METAL CONVEYING APPARATUS F l June- 20, 1913- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 8 1924. msmgg C. P. ASTROM HOT METAL CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed June 20 1919 Y 2 Sheets-$heet 2 j a fi i E Patented Apr. 8, 1924.

UNITED," STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL P. ASTROM, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO M. H. TREADWELL COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HOT-METAL-CONVEYING APPARATUS Application filed June 20, 1919. Serial No. 305,610.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL P. ASTROM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Orange, in the county ofvEssex and 6 State of New Jersey, have'invented certain new-and useful Improvementsin Hot-Metal- Conveying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. I Y 7 This invention relates to 'hot metal con- 10 veying apparatus,-and has for its object to provide an apparatus especially adapted'for conveying large quantities of hot metal, the design herein shown being for an apparatus capable of carrying'upwards of ninety-five 15. tons of hot metal at a time. At the present time, the tendency of theart is to provide apparatus of thischaracter in as large units as possible, inasmuch as there is less heat loss from a given amount of metal in one 2 large container than from the same amount I of metal in two or more containers. Also, the labor and expense in handling is reduced with a less number of units to be handled, as for'example between a blast furnace and casting pits which latter may be at some distance from the furnace, especially in a large plant; Various forms" of hot metal cars have heretofore been designed, consisting of a car body supported on trucks at each end connected by an under frame,

and carrying a tiltable hot metal container.-

The size of sucha car is limited generally by the standard clearances allowed for standard gauge railway cars, and a further 85 limitation upon the capacity exists by v, reason of the under frame whichmust extend under the body andbe of the necessary stiength to transmit thedraft strains. The clearance between the under frame and the 40 read bed plus the'depth of the under frame,

plus the clearance between the under frame and the bottom of the container reduces the permissible diameter of the container, especially if of the form of a solid of revolution, necessitating an increased length for a given capacity. The increased length requires a heavier under frame, and results practically in limiting the size of this type of car below the capacity desired for most w. economical operation. I v A further object of the invention is to enable large closed type hot metal cars with or without an underframe to be operated by a motor carried on the car in order to eliminate the heavy investment and restriction of operation required by overhead cranes of sufiicient capacityito handle the heavy loads involved. i

According to this invention, increased capacity for a given height and length and increased stability as compared with cars heretofore built under patent to Pugh No. 1,251,282 of December 25, 1917, is obtained by dispensing with the underframe in favor of two separated car or body units, and the container is mounted on these separated units and so constructed as to perform the functions heretofore performed by thev heavy under frame connecting the ends of a single car. By this improvement, a car of extremely large capacity without objectionable length can be built, which will not have objectionable weight, and yet which will have the requisitestrength. The container will preferably be mounted to tilt by means of a motor, andwill be supported by the separated platforms in such manner as to transmit'the draft strains from one to the other. Each platform will be mounted on a truck of suitable construction and will have at one end a standard form of draft gear. in a horizontal closed type hot metal car body, it is found that the ordinary short bearing employed in a crane dump car is un suitable for motor actuation because of possible excessive friction, especially in case an electric motor geared to the body by reduction gearing is used. .To obviate this difiiculty the invention specifically comprises an elongated bearing means, so mounted and connected as to reduce the stalling etlecton the motor due to excessive bearing friction. r

In the accompanying drawings,

On account oft-he bending moments- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a depen ently of each other as well as a certain I amount of tilting of the platform body on the truck in going around curves.

Each platform 3 carries two separated trunnion pedestals 8, either integral with the platform in one heavy casting or of built up construction heavily braced thereto to resist draft strains and one of the pedestals 8 on each platform is directly over the central support of the platform. By draft strains is meant either the ordinary strains due to the locomotive, or opposite strains due to coupling, bumping, etc., or more generall the ordinary end thrust transmitted t rough the trunnions'. Car body 10 has elongated end trunnions 12 rigidly secured thereto. These trunnions 12 are mounted in the upper ends of pedestals 8, which may, if desired, be. provided with suitable bushings 13. Shoulders 14 on the trunnion are adapted to engage both sides of the pedestal, and thereby transmit end thrust from the platform 3 to trunnion 12 and thence through car body 10 to the other end. The car body is itself constructed to transmit these strains as well as to carry the designed weight of metal or other material, and to this end will be similar in construction to a tank or elongated double ended barrel. consisting of plate members connected to the trunnions and suitably braced so as to be self-sustaining. 1 The end trunnions 12 may be formed of heavy forgings or castings with dished inner ends to which the container body will be secured. The car body is intcriorly lined with refractory material of the usual character used in hot metal containers, and is provided with a filling and pouring trunk 11 at any desired place.

Each pair of pedestals 8. with bushings 13, being mounted on the same platform 3, may be said to constitute a single bearing of relatively great eifective length. The hemispherical bearing 5, which functions as a universal pivot. serves to make this bearing self aligning. Pads cooperate with rollers 7 to maintain the lateral tilting of platform 3 within desirable limits. The purpose of having the trunnion bearings of relatively great effective length is two fold: first, to overcome the tendency of the truck to move .out from under. in either direction, due to the weight of the car body: and second, to prevent the draft strains from tending to pull the trucks further apart. The effect in either case would be to jam the bearings; but by providing bearings such as described above jamming will be impossible.

At one end, a tilting gear may be provided consisting of a motor 15 whose shaft 16 carries a pinion 17 which drives a gear 18 on shaft 19 having a Worm 20 meshing with a worm gear 21 driving pinion 22 and gear 23 keyed to the trunnion 12. 24 is a lever controlling a clutch 25 on shaft 19, so that the container body is locked by the worm gear- Each car platform 3 being free to pivot horizontally and vertically on the king pin and spherical center bearing, it will be seen thatthe trunnions remain in line independently of inequalities in the track, so that twisting or bending strains will not be imparted to the container body. A particular feature of this invention resides in the use of separated trunnion pedestals and cooperating shouldered trunnion bearings, inasmuch as this distributes the draft strains and also enables ample bearing surface to be provided. The large inner bearings carry the weight while the smaller outer bearings oppose the upward bending moment due to the weight of the body, and the vertical component of draft strains. \Vhile the container body will be designed for maximum capacity for a given length and road clearance, the design here shown consisting of elongated conical ends with an intermediate enlarged portion is advantageous because of its strength and simplicity of construction, and also because the conical portions clear the truck wheels even on a sharp curve. In addition to being used for hot metal, it will be understood that this invention can be used for other materials either liquid or solid where large units of capacity are desired, and for the carrying of lighter liquids such as oils, etc., this invention will have many practical advantages both in original cost and relative lightness of weight.

Various modifications and changes may be made in the details herein described without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed, is:

1: A hot metal or the like conveying apparatus comprising separated trucks, a plat- ;Eornr swiveled on each truck, separated trunnion pedestals on each platform constructed to transmit draft and bumping strains, and a car body having an elongated trunnion at each end provided with a shonlder journalcd in said separated pedestals and constructed to transmit draft and bumping strains between said platforms.

2. A hot metal or the like. conveying apparatus comprising separated trucks. a platform swiveled on each lruclc. separated trunnion pedestals on each platform constructcd to transmit draft and bumping strains, and a car body having an elongated trunnion at each end provided with separated shoulders each cooperating with said pedestals to sustain the body and transmit draft strains. p

3. In a hot metal conveying car, in combination: separated trucks; a platform on each truck; vertical pivoting means, one connecting each platform and. a truck; a hollow car body positioned between the trucks and having a trunnion at each end; separated trunnion pedestals for supporting each trunnion and themselves supported by a platform, each trunnion pedestal nearest the carbody being positioned directly over the vertical pivoting means.

4. A hot metal or the like conveying apparatus comprising separated trucks, a platform swiveled on each truck, separated trunnion pedestals on each platform, and a car bod I having an elongated trunnion at each en provided with so arated shoulders, each coo era-ting with sai pedestals.

5; A arge capacity self contained hot metal dumping car for transporting, storing and dumping hot metal, comprising an elon gated hot metal car body of enlar ed intermediate section having a filling and pouring trunk, a wheeled supporting truck at each,

end of said car body, said car body being tapered at each end to clear the truck Wheels, a central elongated trunnion fixed to each end of the carbody, body supporting means carried by said trucks and formed to support each trunnion rotatably at axially displaced points and constituting in effect an I elongated trunnion bearing, a dumping gear carried by one trunnion, and a motor adjacent said trunnion and connected to said dumping gear for dumping and returning said body.

6.1K large capacity self contained hot metal dumping car for transporting, storing, and dumping hot metal, comprising independent supporting trucks at each end, a platform pivotally supported on each truck, separated trunnion pedestals on each platform constructed to transmit draft and bumping strains, and an elongated hot metal car body of enlarged intermediate section having a filling and pouring trunk and tapering at each end to clear the truck wheels, and constructed to transmit draft and bumping strains between said platform, a central elongated trunnion at each end of the car body supported by said trunnion pedestals, a dumping gear carried by one trunnion, and a motor on the platform car; rying said trunnion and connected to said dumping gear for dumping and returning said body.

7. A large capacity hot metal dumping car for transporting. storing and dumping hot metal, comprising supporting trucks at each end, a platform supported by each truck, pivoting means connecting each platform to its respective truck, each platform carrying directly over said pivoting means a body trunnion pedestal, and an elongated hot metal car body of enlar 'ed intermediate section having a filling and pouring trunk and tapering at each end to clear the truck wheels, :1 central trunnion at each end of the car bod supported by said trunnion pedestals, a umping gear carried by one trunnion, and a motor on the platform carrying said trunnion and connected to said dumping gear for dumping and returning said body.

8. In combination with a large capacity hot metal dumping car body having a pair.

of trunnions for supporting and'tilting the same, means for each of said trunnions providing bearing contact of relatively great effective length to facilitate alignment, a wheeled truck pivotally supporting each of said bearing means, means for transmittin draft and bumping strains between sai trucks, and means for tilting said car body about said trunnions.

9. In combination with a large capacity hot metal dumping car body having a pair of trunnions for supporting and tilting the same, means for each of saidtrunnions providing bearing contact of relatively great effective length to facilitate alignment, a wheeled truck pivotally supportingeach of said bearing means, means for transmitting draft and bumping strains between said trucks, and a motor connected to oneof said trunnions for tilting saidcar body therethrough.

10. In combination with a large capacity hot metal dumping car body having a central trunnion at each end for supportingand tilting the same, means for each of said trunnions providing bearing contact therewith of relatively great effective length to facilitate alignment, a platform for support-- ing each trunnion under its bearing means, independent pivoted wheeled trucks for supporting said platforms, means between said respective bearing means and said trunnions for taking up end thrust due to draft and bumping strains, said car body being adapt ed to transmit said end thrust, and means for tilting said car body on said trunnions.

11. In combination with a large capacity hot metal dumping car body having a central trunnion at each end for supporting and tilting the same, bearing means for each of said trunnions comprising longitudinally spaced bearing surfaces and separate pedestals for supporting the same to provide bearing contact with said respective trunnions of relatively great effective length to facilitate alignment. a platform for supporting each trunnion under its bearing means, independent pivoted wheeled trucks for supporting said platforms, means between said,

for said} bearing means carried on,sa.id

trucks, large capacity self sustainingf -hot metal car body having central elongated bearing means and said trunnions for-taking'up end thrust due to draft and bumping strains, said car body being adapted to transmit said end thrust, and means for tilting said car body on said trunnions.

12. A large capacity hot metal dumping vc'ar'for transporting, storing and dumping hot metal, comprising supporting trucks, means constituting in effect a central elongated trunnion bearing mounted on-each;

truck, universally pivoted supporting means end trunnions carried in said bearingmeans, said bearing means and trunnions interlocking for transmitting inertia strains, and a motor connected with one of said trunnions.

for tiltin'gsaid car body.

- 13. A trunnion bearing for large capacity hot metal .dumping cars, comprlsing a pair ofv separated pedestals, mutually aligned bearing surfaces carried in said pedestals, andmeans for rigidly securing said pedestals 'in'fixed relation to one another.

means for mounting said platform upon wheels. I

16. A' large capacity hot metal dumping car. for transport1ng,.storing, and dumping hot metal comprising a wheeled supporting ing the car body, a self sustaining car truck at each end, a platform at each end supported on the truck, a central trunnion bearing on each platform supporting the car body, a self sustaining car body having an intermediate enlarged section between the trucks, tapered ends, and a pouring spout, a supporting trunnion carried by each tapered end and resting on the trunnion bearings, a gear carried by one of the trunnions, a power rotary motor mounted on the adjacent platform, reduction gearing between the motor and [said trunnion gear, said parts being so constructed and arranged as to maintain .said trunnions substantially in line and take up. vertical moments due to the weight of the body or draft strains independently of the motor drive.

17. A large capacity hot metal dumping car for transporting, storing, and dumping hot metal comprising a wheeled supporting truck at each end, a platform at each end supported .on the truck, an elongated central trunnion bearing on each platform suppoathaving an intermediate enlarged section be tween the trucks, tapered ends and a pouring spout, an elongated supporting trunnion carried by each tapered end and resting on the elongated trunnion bearings, a gear carried by one of the trunnions, a power rotary motor mounted on the adjacent platform, reduction gearing between the motor and saidtrunnion gear, said parts being so constructed and arranged as to maintain said trunnions substantially in line and take up vertical moments due to the weight of the body ordraft strains independently of the motor drive.

Signed' at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 19th day' of June, A. D. 1919.

a CARL P. ASTROM. 

